World Premiere of Volvo Hybrid Bus in Gothenburg - VIDEO
ENHANCED

STOCKHOLM - April 28, 2009: When Volvo's new hybrid bus begins to carry
passengers for the first time, it is happening in Gothenburg, Sweden. The
Göteborgs Spårvägar transit company is participating in a field test
with the hybrid bus that provides major fuel savings as a result of
electric drive and shutting off the diesel engine at bus stops.

Environmental issues are high on the agenda among politicians in
Göteborg and this applies to a great extent within traffic policy.
There
are distinct environmental demands the entire way from the
politicians
in the traffic committee, through the officials at the city’s Traffic
Office and those responsible for procurement at the Västtrafik county
public services agency to the operators, including Göteborgs
Spårvägar.

“A consistent and systematic environmental effort is the core of
Västtraffik’s strategy,” says Leif Blomqvist, Västtrafik’s Board
Chairman. “We must be at the forefront in offering long-term
sustainable
travel. Seizing on new technologies is important for us and with the
hybrid bus, exhaust emissions and noise are reduced.”

Hybrid solutions for heavy vehicles have existed for many years, but
they have been too expensive and reduced emissions too little, as a
result of which they did not achieve market penetration. The Volvo
Group’s new hybrid technology changes this. The company has developed
a
technology that is common for buses, trucks and construction
equipment.
In this manner, the Group secures large component volumes and
subsequently lower costs.

Silent at bus stops Volvo’s hybrid bus is equipped with two engines
working together, a diesel engine that due to electric drive could be
made smaller than usual, and an electric motor. The bus can be driven
with both engines operating together or one or the other singly,
which
is one of the major benefits of the parallel hybrid technology used
by
the Volvo Group.

When the bus brakes, the braking energy is recycled and stored in a
battery mounted on the roof of the bus. This energy is then used to
drive the electric motor. When the doors open at the bus stop, the
diesel engine is shut off entirely. The bus then starts solely
powered
by the electric motor and first when the bus reaches a speed of 15-20
km/h, the diesel engines starts automatically.

Volvo’s hybrid technology contributes to a quieter and cleaner city
environment. Fuel consumption, and consequently the emission of the
greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, is reduced by up to 30% depending on
where the bus is operating in traffic. The emission of nitrous oxides
and particles declines by 40-50% compared with a conventional diesel
bus.

Click PLAY to watch a video clip of the Volvo 7700 hybrid bus unveiled at the IAA Hanover Truck Show

“We reduce energy consumption per passenger by 50-75%, compared with
using an automobile,” says Edward Jobson, Environmental Director at
Volvo Buses. “With such major environmental gains and such large
savings
in fuel costs, we are convinced that hybrid buses will become
extremely
attractive and a difficult-to-beat alternative for personal
transportation within a few years.”

Series production 2010 Volvo expects to start series production of
hybrid buses at the beginning of 2010. The company has already
received
its first orders for the bus, including customers in Luxemburg and
Switzerland. The field tests now starting in Göteborg are intended
for
making the final fine adjustments.

It was natural for Göteborgs Spårvägar to participate in the field
test.

“Our goal is to be the frontrunner and, accordingly, we strive
continuously to reduce the negative environmental impact of bus
traffic,” says Pierre Modini, Operations Manager at Göteborgs
Spårvägar
Buss AB. “Naturally, testing new environmental technology in our
buses
is important to us.”

In the near future, Volvo Buses will also start field tests with the
first of six hybrid double-decker buses in London.

Click PLAY to watch video about Volvo's hybrid trucks and buses

About Volvo Bus Corporation
Volvo Bus Corporation is one of the world’s largest manufacturer of
large buses and coaches. The range comprises complete vehicles,
chassis,
bus bodies, transport system solutions for metropolitan traffic,
leasing, financing and service contract maintenance. Volvo Bus
Corporation is part of the Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading
manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction equipment, drive
systems
for marine and industrial applications, aerospace components and
services. The Group also provides complete solutions for financing
and
service. For more information, please visit www.volvobuses.com